Universal joint.



K. F. RANGER.

UNIVERSAL 301ML APPLmATmN mm MAY so, 191sA Patented July 9, ISIS.

2 SHEETSY-SHEET 1.

ign punto@ VVVV//A f 7M .w i A K. F. RANGER.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLxcArloN FILED MAYlo, 19H5.

Patented July 9, 191s. 2 SHEETS-IBSN 2 l1/wanton j UmvnnsAL Joxu'r.

speuincquon of Lem-rs Patent.

`Irutented July 9. 1918.

Application med may 1o, 191e. serial no. 96.415.

, To all whom t may "concern Beit known that IQKARL F. RANGER, a citizen o fthe United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of-Michi an, have inventedv e new and vImproved I niversal Joint, of which the fol- .lowing is a specification.

to provide improvements in erasing for universal joints; and also to'improve the joint with Yreference to the details of the lubrieating features. 4Theinvention will be more fully understood upon reference to the following descriptioh and to the appended drawings, in `which zi refl' is `a fragmentary longitudinal section 'through oe embodiment. Fig. 2 is a section of a slightly modified construction on a line corresponding to the line 2-2 of Fig. '1, the cross or connecting element of thefjoint being removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section Vshowing one manner in whichl the yoked yor bifurceted member may be constructed to receive the cross. Fig. 4 is,` a fragn'ientary longitudinal section through a modification. Fig.- 5 is a section on the line'5-5of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a .sidev view showinganother embodiment. Fig. 7 is a plan view corresponding to' Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective-view of the 'csing shown `iu`Figs-6 and 7'.-- Fig. 9 is a plan view of one of the blanks from which this casing is nizde;`

Sinilarrcflehce characters refer to like i A Theinain' shaft sections whlch are. to be joined are' designated 1 and 2; it willbe ob-f .servedthet the former is provided with the.l end flange 3 from/the' outerfage of which afange 4; preferably annular, ro'jects towa rd A the otheuflnetn section. nclosed .by this inge'uiid conforming closely thereto is thennnular shoulder 5f; of a ldivided cross,- pin receiving section dt'fdig suction, the in- `dividual members 6 andufrof which are pro- ,videdA withun aplrpprintemnale und female r`meeting surface orfsurfaces 9 whereby, when the ,members are properly positioned within ythe flange 5., they 4are preventd from moving laterally in respect to eac other in one dlrection, it being understood that theange takes the primary stresses tendin Ito withdraw t e `mule-member from te female membe 'The parts 6-1-8 and 1 are pre. vented. from being displaced longitudinally in respect to one another by rivets or bolts 10. Y l

Rigid with the members 6 and 8 are lugs 12, preferably bossed et l3, in which are formed alinedsockets for the reception of bushings or other suitable bearings 14 wherein the journals-15 of the cross-member 16 may turn. It will be seen that the member 16 has flanges or shoulders 17 which overlap the bushings 14. and exclude dirt The outer end of both' sockets may be closed by the walls 18 (Fig. 2) or but one socket may have a wall of ,this'naturm the other being closed by a screw plug 19 (Fig. l), or'

both walls may be replaced by plugs. The su embodiment shown in'- Fig. 1 is, however,

4preferable since it allows the cross-menibeirg which isprovided with n longitudinal pessage 2() that extends from end to end, to be `readily filled with lubricant, the latter being` thrown into the ends of the passage by centrifugal force andy gradually distributed to the bearings. Thisconstruetion is also preferable in that it allows line' reaming of the sockets for Ithe bushings 14,.'

The cross-member 16 is pierced at right angles to its length `and receives a second crossmember 21 (alsohaving a longitudinal passage. 22 in communication with thepnssage 20) which is secured to 'the member 1G by n pin 23. These members. taken to gether, form the cross; and the ends of the member 21 are received inY sockets (Fig. 3) formed -in the divided end 26 of the mem ber 2, the outer end of one of the sockets being closed by a. wall 28 and the other by aplug 29, through which lubricant muy, of vcourse, be admitted` bushings or other beurings 30 being preferably interposed between the members-,2 and 21.

The member 2 may, if desired, be pro- ,vided with a. circular flange 32, the outer surface 33 of which is an element of a sphere having its center ut the intersection of the members 16 dhd21. or in other words. at the point about which the members l and 2 lmve'lelntive universal movement. A sheet metal casing (shown in dashedjliucs in Fig.

1)' having a spherical portion 36 that Vcou- "base portion 37 which is secured to the ineining reasons, it is, however,

flange 3 r and toexclude dust a.

bers 6--8 in any preferred manner may be -isedi to protect and conceal the parts, and since ther oil is retained in the bearings in 'the mannerdescribed above, it follows that the fitting,r of the portion 36 to the surface 33. need `not be accurate. For manufacturploy the casing shownin *full lines (Fig. 1) which consists in a cylindrical bod)1 Y38 fsecured to the compoundmember 36-8 .in any suitable way) together withthe perforated inner and outer dished or flanged end plates 39 and 40 (between which is formed the annular transverse slot 41)' in which the perforated annular plate 42 slides in accordance with the relative movements of the casing and the member 2. 1f desired. a fiber washer 43 may be interposed between the parts 2 and 42 to prevent rattling.

In the modification which appears in Figs. 4 and 5, the cross-members 43 and 44, which corres nd to the members 16e-21, are made solidI and the eid wall 18 and plug .19 shown in lFig. 1 are omitted, likewise the wall 23 and plu29 of the-member 2, as well asthe` plied externally, and in order to retain it basing member 46 (similar to the member 36438) is employed. together with a second sheetmetal. casing member having a spherical end 49 received within the end ofthe member 46. The sec# mid member also includes a cylindrical portion 50 spaced 'from the shaft 2, a portion 51 conforming closely thereto, and a conneeting wall `52 by which a chamber is formed for packing 53, which4 is-held vin placeby the follower ring 'In this construction the shafts 1 and 2 '(shown hollow) are closed in. any suitable tway. j

In the modificationshown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusi-ve, the same driving elements are employed as in Figs. 1 and 2, but the casing is divided circumferentially into two duplicate sectionsgeach of whichincludes a base A flange thatis secured tothe circumferen` tially adjacent edges of the lugs 12 by screws 61. At points adjacent the lugs thelcasing sections are offset outwardly therefrom and extended circumferentially in the opposite direction from the lugs to a point a slightv distance beyond then'earcstedge of the ad-A jacent divisio'n of the arm 26 of theinember 2 to form spherical elements 62; thus theV Aend 63 ot the element 62 is removed from the adjacent edge V64 of the other casing member somewhat less than the transverse circumferentiy l dimension of th'ecorresponding lug 12.. Eachcf the casing members is formed by` stamping a blank of the shape' indicated in Fig. 9 in an obviousmanner.

Since it is desirable to make the joints,

Vpreferred to em- Lubricant must therefore be apy 54 and spring 55.

" IIA universal i members and a connecting member through and yfurcations 6 8 said head by th'e bolts 10, said urcations having complementary base portions-provided With an annular shoulderengagingv said head. There is also present a hollow cross member 16 having integral journals 15 on one of the cross-arms thereof, a hollow journal pin 21 insertible throughl the other cross-arm, a bifurcated shaft member 2 havin a recess in one of its furcations for receiving the hollow journal pin 2l and an aperture in the opposite furcation (Fig. 3) through which said pin is inserted. and a cap 29 for closing said aperture after'tlie insertion of said pin. l i

It is clear that various modifications of the Several features, other than thoseshown, maybe -made without departing from the spirit of my invention; for example, instead of the cross shown, the well known substitute'ilii the form of a ring may `be employed', It is also obvious that the piv otal axes of the jointmay in some cases be spaced vlongitudinally from each other along the eneral line of thesh'aftin'g; lin other wor s, the cross may be' extended longitudinally along the line of shafting, in which event it may be formed of two or moreV rigidly connected sections, each of which forms a. portion of the length ofthe cross. Thel flange. 4 may al be replaced 105 by lugs or shortsections at points intermediate the ends of `"the dividing' line between the members 6 and 8. I -do not, therefore, wish to be limited other than as indicated by the subjoined claims 1 I claim-:

:sal

joint :comprising two main which stress is transmitted, a 4section 4interf posed between one of the main members and the' connecting member, said section having alined bearing elements the conunon axis of which -is at right angles to the -len h of said main member, said section being ormed A of ,male'and female members whose divid- 12"' ing line ,extends in general at an angle to said axis, the last mentioned maint member having rigid therewith means whereby the, male and female members are prevented from separating from one another by rela- V tivemovement\atlan angle to thedividing line. f

2. A universaljomt'comprising two main l members and aconnecting member through which stress'is transmitted, fa sectionL inter.- 13o Laviana of which is at right angles to the length of I said main member, said section being formed of male and female members whose dividin line extendsin general atan angle to said exis. the last mentioned main member having'rigd therewith means whereby the male and female members are prevented yfrom separating from'one another by relative movement at an angle to the dividing line, and additional means for preventing the section from moving longitudinally relative to the last mentioned main member.

f 3. A universal joint comprising tivo main meinbers-aiid a connecting member through which stress is transmitted, a section interposed between one of the main members and the connecting member` said section having alined bearing elements the common axis of which is at right angles to the length of said main member, said section being formed oa plurality of members, the last mentioned y main member being socketed 'to receive the ends of the plurality of members', and conforming to said ends whereby said members are prevented from spreading in a plane at an angle to theaxis of-said last mentioned main member, the connecting member and the interposed section being of such relative cross-section as to prevent the former from being wholly removed from the latter while 'said interposed section is received in theJ socket in the main member. V

4. A universal joint comprising two main members and a connecting member through which stress is transmitted, a section interosed between one of the main members and 40 the connecting member,.said section having alined bearing elements the common Iaxis Y of which is at right angles to the length of said main member, said section being `formed of male andV female members whose dividing line extends in general at an angle to said axis. the last mentioned main member having rigid therewithmeans whereby the male and female members are prevented from separating from one anotherbyrelative 59 movement in any direction except at right angles to the plane of said connecting member. i

5. A universal joint comprising two main members and a connecting member through which stress is transmitted, a section interposed between one of the main members and thezconnecting member, said section having alinedvbearing elements the commonv axis of which is at'right angles to the length of said 60 main member, section being formed of a plurality of parts, the last mentioned main member having rigid therewith means whereby the section is prevented from mov- .,ing laterally in respect thereto. the connect! 65.5 ing member and the interposed section beingV of such relative cross-section as to prevent disengagementl from one another while said interposed section is in engagement with the means' whereby it is prevented from moving laterally.

6. A universal joint comprising two main members andra connecting member through which stress is transmitted. a section interposed between one of the main members and the connecting member, Said section having alined bearing elements the common axis of which isntl right angles to the length of said main member. said'section being formed of a plurality of parts. the last mentioned main member having rigid therewith means whereby the section is prevented from moving laterally in respect thereto` andadditional means for preventing relative longi tudinal movement of the section and last mentioned 'niain'member, the connectingr member and the interposed section being of such relative cross-section as to prevent disengagement from one another while said interposed section is in engagement with the means whereby it is prevented from' moving laterally.

7. A pivotal joint including two members. and a split section rigid with one of the members and interposed between it aiidthe other member. the member with which the split section isV rigid having a circumferential ange embracing said split section toprevent the latter from shiftiner la'iterallvitlie second member having aliiiedends pivotallv mounted respectively in the correspondingr portions of the split section. the split section and the second member being of such relative cross-section that the latter is not removable from the former while thc split section is rigid with the member bv which it is carried. i

8. A universal joint comprising two main members and aconnecting member in the form of a cross through which stress is transmitted, asection interposed between one ofthe main members and the cross. said section being formed of ma'le and female members whose dividing line extends in a n i. n l 4" 9. A universal Joint comprising twovimini; members and a connecting*membei-in theg form ofy a cross @through :which psti'css. is

ltransmittedpa section interposed between one of the main members land the cross, said section beingI formed of male and female members whose dividing line extends in a general direction at right angles to the length of the adjacent main member, the j members of the section including lugs having alined perforations in which the end portions of one of the arms of the cross are received` the axis of said perforations being at an angle to said dividing line, the other main member being bifurcated adjacent the cross' and receiving the ends of the other arm Vot the 'cr6ss, the first mentionedmain member having rigid therewith means for preventing separation of-the members' of the section, and bearings interposed between the ends of the arms of the Vcross and the members in which they are received. j

10. A universal joint comprising two main members anda connecting member in the form of a cross through which stress is transmitted, a section interposed between one of the main members and the cross, sait1 I section being formed of male andffemal members whose dividing line extends in a general direction at rightl angles to the length of the adjacent main member, the members of the section including lugs hav- 'ing alined perforations in which the end,

portions of one of the arms of the` cross are received, vthe axis of said perforations being at an angle to said dividing line, said cross being hollow to receive lubricant and the outer'ends of said-lugs being closed to prevent the escape of the lubricant` the 'first mentioned main member-having 1igid,therewith means for preventing separation of the members of the section.

11.` A universal joint comprising two main members and a closed hollouconnecting member through which stress is transmitted, a section interposed between one of the main members and the connecting member, said section being formed of male and female members whose dividing line extends transversely of the adjacentmainrmember, the members ofthe section being in pivotal cooperative relation with' the connectin member, the axis of the pivots being aline and at an angle to the dividing line, the first mentioned main member having rigid therewith means for preventing separation of the members of thel section.

12. A universal joint lubricating the several bearing surfaces thereof from a common sourcewithin the joint. and a casing whereb; the joint is concealed. said common scum of lubricant being withinfhlre casingand. divided `from the of the chamber inclosed by said casing.

13.`A universal joint having two |main members and a closed hollow connecting member in pivotal relation to the mam members wherein lubricant is storedand whereby it is fed to the-'bearing surfaces of all4 having means for Y ing member is concealed, said casing allowliquids from the interior thereof;

15. A universal joint having twoy main members and a closed hollow connecting member in pivotal relation tothe main members whereinlubricant is storedand whereby it is fed to the bearing surfaces of the pivots and a casing whereby the connecting the escape of liquids from the interior thereof. l

16. A universal joint comprising two main members and. a connecting member through which stress istransmitted, a -split section interposed bet-Ween one of the main members and the connecting member, said last mentioned main member having integral therewith means whereby the parts of the splitA section are prevented' from spreading,vsaid split section having alined bearing elements opening toward each other and receivinor projections on the' connecting member, sai connecting member bein'gvhollow andvvi-thi the ends of the ,bearin elements affording chambers for lubricant 01` `the bearings.

17. A universal joint comprising two main members and a connecting vmember through which stress is transmitted,l a split` section interposed between one of the main 100 members and the connecting member, said last mentioned main member having integral therewith means whereby the parts,of the split section are prevented from spreading, s'aid split section having alined bearing 105 elements opening toward each other, the outer end of one of the bearingelements be- `ing formed integral with the lcorresponding portion of the split section, said bearing elements receiving projections on the connect- .ing member, said connecting member being 'integral' with the corresponding 'portion `of the split section, a detachable closure for the outer Aend of thel other bearing element, said 4 bearing elements receiving projections on the connecting member, said connecting' member 130 being hollow and with the ends of the bearing` elements affording chambers for lubricant for the bearings.-

19. A universal joint comprising two main members and a connecting member through which stress is transmitted, a split section interposed between one of the main. members and the connecting member, said last mentioned main member having integral therewith a circumferential flange whereby the parts of the split section are prevented -arm, a bifureated shaft member having a recess in one of its furcations forv receiving said hollow journal pin and an aperture 1n the opposite furcation through which said pin is inserted, a cap for closing said aperture after the insertion of said p1n, a complementary bifurcated shaft member, provided with detachable furcations separately engageable with the integral journals of said cross member and closed at their outer ends, and means for positioning and securing said getachable furcations to their shaft mem- 22. In a universal joint, `the combination with a cross member having integral journals on one of its cross-arms, of a journal 'detachably engaging the other of said crossarms, a bifurcated shaft member having integral furcations, one of said furcations being recessed to receive said journal pin and the opposite furcation being apertured for' the insertion of said pin, a complementary bifurcated shaft member having detachable furcations recessed 'to engage said integral journals and provided with complementary portions of a circular head` a circular head integral with the shaft member recessed to receive the complementary circular portions of sai-d furcaions, and clamping means for securing said heads to each other.

23. In a universal joint, a shaft member provided With a head, furcations secured to said head, said furcations including shoulders extending concentrically about the axis of the shaft member through which shoulders stresses tending to spread the furcations apart in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft member are transmitted.

24. In a universal joint, a. shaft member provided with a head, furcations separately detachably secured tol said head and having complementary base portions' provided with an annular shoulder throughl which stresses ltending to spread the `furcations apart 1n ay plane perpendicular to the axis o-f the shaftv member are transmitted.

25. In a universal joint, a shaft member provided with a head, furcatlons separately detachably secured to said head and p rovided with `complementary base portions having an annular shoulder engagement with said head, and means for accurately peripherally positioning said base portions upon' said head. y

26. In a universal joint, a hollow-cross member having integral journal bearingsv on one of the cross-arms thereof, a hollow jour- -nal pin insertible through the other crossarm, a bifurcated shaft member having a recess in one of its furcations for receiving said hollow journal pin and an aperture in the opposite furcation through which said pin is inserted, a cap for closingI said aperture after the insertion of said pin, a complementary bifurcated shaft member. pro.- vided with detachable furcations separately engageable With the integral journals of said cross member and closed at their outer ends,

and means for positioning and securing said detachable fui-cations to their shaft member.

27. In a universal joint, the combination with a cross member having integral journals on one of its cross-arms, of a journal detachably engaging the other of said cross arms, a bifurcated. shaft member having integral fureations, one of said furcations being recessed to receive said journal pin and the opposite furcation being apertlued for the insertion of said pin. a complementary bifurcated shaft member having detachable fureations recessed to engage said integral journals and provided with complementary portions of a circular head. a circular head integral with the shaft member recessed to receive the complementary circular portions of said furca'rions` and clamping means for securing said heads to each other.

28. In a universal joint, a hollow cross member, complementary bifurcfted shaft members having recesses in the urcations thereof forming journal bearings for said cross member, a hollow pin insertible through an aperture in one of said furca 120 tions for Connecting said cross member` thereto, the interior of said pin having communication with the interior of said cross member, and a cap for closing the aperture through KARL F. RANGER.

which said pin is inserted. 

